Define Success | What Does Success Mean To You?

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Define Success – Big House? Fancy Car? Or….Just Happiness?

It was not until I found myself laying in a hospital bed last June that I was finally able to define success. Prior to landing in the hospital I was a very successful salesman in corporate America. I had reached a 6-figure a year income and I was quickly climbing the “corporate ladder.”

At this time, I was living to work and not working to live. I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was completely neglecting my family, friends and health.

90% of the people that I ask this exact question cannot come up with an answer. Why? Because they have never tried to answer it. For some, success is a giant multimillion dollar house with a Ferrari in the garage.

For others, success is running their own business, or finally paying off all their credit cards and being debt free! For a few, success is living the life that they were meant to live. There is not a clear definition of “Success.”

Prior to June of 2011 my definition of success was something along the lines of this: I define success as working hard, having a big job title and making as money as possible.

By following this definition I ended up having a mini-stroke at the age of 31. My body completely shut down one night. While my wife and I were out on “date-night” I got dizzy, passed out and the next thing I knew I was being rushed to the hospital.

How Do You Define Success?

90% of the people that I ask this exact question cannot come up with an answer. Why? Because they have never tried to answer it. For some, success is a giant multimillion dollar house with a Ferrari in the garage.

For others, success is finally paying off all their credit cards and being debt free! For a few, success is living the life that they were meant to live. There is not a clear definition of “Success.”

Prior to June of 2011 my definition of success was something along the lines of this: I define success as working hard, having a big job title and making as money as possible.

By following this definition I ended up having a mini-stroke at the age of 31. My body completely shut down one night. While my wife and I were out on “date-night” I got dizzy, passed out and the next thing I knew I was being rushed to the hospital.

During this time I was working 70+ hours a week, not getting much sleep and constantly stressed over project deadlines and meetings. My body finally said, “enough is enough.”

So as I laid in the hospital bed and listened to the heart rate monitor I asked myself one simple question, “Why do I exist?” Throughout my career I have always been a “manager” because I really enjoy helping people. I love watching others grow in their career path.

How I Define Success: “I exist to help others define their success by coaching them through their fears and giving them the tools to succeed.”

By answering this one simple question I was able to redefine my definition of success. Success to me is no longer a big paycheck, a big “job title,” or climbing the corporate ladder.

Success to me is being a wonderful husband to my wife. Success to me is being a loving and caring father to my two children. Success to me is making a positive difference in as many lives as possible. That is how I define success!

Why Is It Important To Define Success?

Simply put, if you don’t you could end up in the hospital like me. Are you focused on your career or are you focused on the things that are the most important in life?

Why do you think the divorce rate is so high? People get sucked into the corporate vortex and before they know it they are focusing more of their time and energy on their job than their marriage.

Guess what? You can replace a job and paycheck. You cannot replace your family, best friends or health. So I challenge you to sit down and define success. Do you define success by having materialistic items or do you define success and owning your own life!

After I was able to define success I realized that I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming my own boss. Why? So that I could spend more time with my family and take vacations when I wanted to take them (without worrying if I had enough vacation hours saved up).